Merkel's Hilburn, Wylie's Olson lead at West Texas Junior Open

The leaderboard at the West Texas Junior Open read like a who's who of Big Country golf after the tournament's first round Wednesday at Shady Oaks Golf Course in Baird.

Heading into Thursday's final round at Abilene Country Club, Merkel standout Colton Hilburn, a two-time Class 3A state runner-up, leads the 15- to 18-year-old boys standings, while Wylie's Maddi Olson, the reigning Class 4A state champ, leads the same age grouping for the girls.

Hilburn, a rising senior, shot a first-round 69 Wednesday to take a three-stroke lead into the second round. Snyder's Jake Leatherwood is in second at 72, while Zane Brooks, a Ranger resident and Eastland graduate, is tied for third with Merkel's Parker Doan at 74. Big Spring's Nolan Otto rounds out the top-five at 75.

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Wylie girls golfer Maddi Olson(Photo: Jordan Hofeditz/Reporter-News)

On the girls side, Olson, a sophomore-to-be, shot a 74 to lead recent Sweetwater grad Kensi Chowning by five strokes. Snyder's Courtney Vleasquez is in third at 85, followed by Monahans' Sommer Hummel (86) and Abilene Cooper student Bridget Miller (87).

Grigsby shot a 75 to lead Ranger's Blane Brooks by nine strokes, and Nickson's nine-hole score of 38 has him one stroke up on Eldorado's Brooks Vaughan. Paige Goodman (74) and Pree Goodman (44) were the only competitors in their respective divisions.

In the coed divisions, Gloyna shot a 47 to take a two-stroke lead on May's Jaiden Jones and a four-stroke lead on Goldthwaite's Lane Gray, while Reed (46) holds a five-stroke lead on Snyder's Conley Cook.